Atalanta landed in Riyadh for the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia

Less noble to whom? Atalanta has just landed in Riyadh with the lineage of a great team, on a par with Inter who they will challenge on Thursday in a highly spectacular semi-final: the Saudi organization welcomed the Goddess at the airport just before 7pm local time with the usual ceremony reserved for everyone – flowers, coffee and sweets -, but there were also some fans ready to wait for Gasperini directly at the hotel, just like what happened to Inzaghi last night. No hysteria, no crowds, but curiosity has nevertheless grown among local fans for the “other” Nerazzurri, the miracle team that is leaders in Serie A together with Napoli. Especially after the hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, Ademola Lookman is the player who is most intriguing in these parts. Even for the Bergamo club itself, the landing in Arabia is a historic moment and a sign of a now endless growth: not only does Atalanta debut in the Italian Super Cup, but it is also the first time ever that it has crossed the borders of Europe and goes to another continent to play an official competition. Today’s rivals, not only Inter but also Milan and Juve, expected at the airport shortly after the Dea, have a much different attendance among the world’s elite, but the difference in the group has narrowed considerably, and it is the Saudi atmosphere that confirm it. The fans at home, then, particularly believe in it: at the gates of Zingonia 600 of them pushed the troop led by Antonio and Luca Percassi this morning before the start, but the ultras will not be in Arabia in open dispute with the organization of the Cup. The club’s co-owner, Steve Pagliuca, barring any last-minute schedule changes, will not be in Riyadh on Thursday, but could arrive if they qualify for the final.

the right formula

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Not only did the two main centre-forwards – Mateo Retegui and Gianluca Scamacca – remain in Bergamo to complete the recovery program after their respective injuries, but also Juan Cuadrado was blocked by a fascial injury of the right hamstring muscle. Gasp was still able to bring Matteo Ruggeri with him, who was in doubt until yesterday: he is an extra weapon on the left. The coach’s doubts in view of Thursday, if anything, focus on the attack to be composed and recomposed, both at the beginning and during the match: in the end, all the offensive players will be on the pitch for 90 minutes, but the right formula of departure will be under consideration until the last moment in Riyadh.

with the fans

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Atalanta chose to travel one day after Inter, which is why they will have one session less in Arabia. The premiere will only be held tomorrow afternoon at 4.45pm local time, 2.45pm in Italy, at the Prince Faisal stadium. At the beginning, the players and staff will have a half-hour photo and video session with the fans, while at the end there will be a training clinic for coaches and kids from the local academies. It will be conducted by two collaborators of Gasp, Fumagalli and Raimondi, and two players, Scalvini and Ruggeri himself. Even before that, at 11.30 in the Saudi morning, Gasp will give his eve conference at Al-Awwal Park, the stadium of CR7’s Al-Nassr, where the Super Cup semi-final will be played. Marten De Roon, who wasn’t there in Dublin and now wants to smooch a cup up close, will speak on behalf of the team.